Referendum Madness
If Monday is any indication a handful of people, literally, will decide the fate of Wishard Hospital and several school districts in Marion County. Monday was the first day of early voting and out of 590,000 registered voters only 86 people showed up to cast a vote. And 50 of them voted before lunch.
Now in all fairness, the first few days of early voting are usually lite. According to Marion County Clerk Beth White’s Office, in the 2008 special election to fill the seat vacated by the late Julia Carson 28 voters cast votes on the first day of early voting. 74 voters showed up for the first day of the 2008 primary and 679 for the general election.
However, because this an election in an off-off-off year, and turnout is expected to be so low, the votes in the referendum are likely to carry a lot more weight. So if you don’t think your vote counts, think again this time it really does.
